Carbon Capture Scales Up
Direct air capture facilities are operating in Iceland and the US, pulling CO2 directly from the atmosphere. The technology is energy-intensive and expensive, currently costing 600-1000 dollars per ton of CO2. Scaling to meaningful impact requires orders of magnitude cost reduction. Governments are subsidizing early deployment through tax credits and grants. Critics argue that carbon capture distracts from emissions reduction. Proponents say both are necessary to reach net-zero by 2050.